Capitol-area crime sweep nets 170 arrests

A crime-suppression sweep conducted earlier this month around the Capitol area resulted in 35 felony warrant arrests and 701 pounds of marijuana seized by a multi-agency task force including 11 Capitol Police officers.

Increasing levels of criminal and gang activity and outstanding warrants spurred the four-day operation, which took place Feb. 2-5.

Capitol Police interim Chief Andrew Staubitz was pleased with the results of the collaboration.

“The operation went excellent,” he said. “We always try to assist and get involved with the agencies.”

The operation was carried out over an area bordered by I-17 to the west and south, I-10 to the north and Seventh Street to the east. The task force included officers from the Phoenix Police Department, Mesa Police Department, Maricopa County Probation Department and the Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission (GIITEM) in addition to the Capitol Police.

The agencies typically do two-to-three of these types of operations per year, but they haven’t made plans for the next one yet.

“We usually plan a month or two out for these types of things, so we can give as much attention and resources as possible,” said Staubitz. “It allows us to be partners in law enforcement with these agencies, improves quality of life and bolsters our crime-prevention efforts here in the Capitol area.”

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